Getting Out to Brooklyn's Green Spaces

It’s no surprise that a lot of teenagers don’t spend time outside very often; many of us barely leave our rooms. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a contributor to this, of course. Things like shopping and traveling to indoor places are difficult, if not impossible. I’ve lamented a lot about how I don’t have access to my old refuge away from home: the Central Library. Without safe, comfortable spaces like that, it kind of feels pointless to leave the house. 

However, I think many teens are really missing out on local green spaces—even if they aren’t currently so green. Those of us that live within range of a public green space are incredibly privileged. Over the past year, I’ve come to better appreciate what they have to offer us, and there are quite a few in my wonderful hometown of Brooklyn worth a visit. 

I’m sure anyone reading is aware of Prospect Park. With 586 acres, a zoo, a lake, bike paths, lawns, trails, and various picnic spots, it’s hard not to love. I lived close by when I was little, and there are so many memories I have: seeing my late friend at the Prospect Park Zoo, a brown cow named Aggie; disappearing into the trees near the Great Lawn and exploring; and going on the tire swings at a playground. For years, though, I rarely went. I didn’t live in a close neighborhood anymore, and it felt pointless as I got older. 

Now, however, I adore going to the park. I often wander to the edge of the water and feed the waterbirds. It’s surprisingly exciting, watching ducks zip back and forth or geese slide across frozen sections of the lake and fight over bread. There’s this beautiful family of swans, too. The park is also a more casual spot for me these days. Once, I bought a treat from a bakery on 8th Avenue and walked up to Prospect Park West. Then I just sat on the concrete fence and ate, sort of people-watching and listening to music.

Another amazing place not far from Prospect Park is Green-wood Cemetery. As someone enamored with New York history, I am thrilled to be so close to this beautiful place. It’s the most forest-like area of Brooklyn, for sure, and full of gorgeous monuments, statues, hills, and even some wildlife. Over the summer, I kept running into groundhogs!

A lot of people don’t seem to know that this graveyard—and other public cemeteries—can be used as a public, outdoor space. Yes, it’s extremely important to be respectful of mourning families and their loved ones. However, Green-wood is a place to be enjoyed by everyone. It’s where I find the nicest quiet and the most clarity of mind. And it’s easy to lose yourself in the past here, too, with many graves dating back to the 1800s. For anyone with a morbid curiosity, a really great activity is researching old headstones online, using sites like FindAGrave.com. 

Finally, a slightly more obscure green space in Brooklyn is Marine Park. Past the main field, playground, and community center on Fillmore Avenue, there is a big expanse of natural environment surrounding an inlet of Jamaica Bay. It’s a much more accessible area for people in Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, and Sheepshead Bay, along with other nearby neighborhoods via bus.

Marine Park is home to countless species of birds and fish. There is a trail for walking or running, an overlook of the water, and the Salt Marsh Nature Center, where visitors can find information about local wildlife. I recently went here on an excursion with my girlfriend, and we had a really nice lunch at the picnic tables and walked the trail. The view from behind the nature center was lovely.

There is so much happiness to be found being outdoors. It’s hard, sometimes, but I really recommend exploring a local green space. Even if you aren’t interested in being active or bird watching, you’ll find that bringing your thoughts out of your room and into open air is a great thing to do.